Technology in Architectural Practice

This message has been cross posted to the following Discussion Forums: Technology in Architectural Practice and Small Project Practitioners .
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I guess the Ipad is ok if you remember that it only gives the illusion of having the capability of a laptop or desktop. After wasting most of an hour searching a website for information and functions (I was trying to change an airline reservation), I learned that many dropdown menus simply do not appear via the Ipad.

In my view the device is too big to be portable and too small to be functional.
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Robert Matschulat AIA
Architect, Educational Facility Planner
Edutecture, LLC
Lakewood CO
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Just to add a little to the discussion...I've used my ipad for a variety of functions both in teaching and in my practice work. I use it to lecture and make presentations through keynote. The keynote app is pretty smooth. I use the goodreader app for pdf review and markup. I have been using cloud storage like dropbox as a means of having material available while traveling, or on the job site, using the wifi function in the ipad (I have a smart phone, so I didn't get the 3G version). I have had pdfs of CDs available for jobsite meetings, and when you open a single pdf page, say a plan detail sheet, you can view it real time with builders for discussion. I use the penultimate app for rough job site sketching, real time, then email the sketches to myself, or others, back at the office. That's better than a sketchbook, because the file is already digitized. That may be the best tool I've used on the job site to date.

I like to say the ipad is great for viewing and sharing, not great for actually making things, which is maybe what you are getting at Robert. So if you partition the things that you view and share, the ipad is much more nimble and flexible for those purposes, especially while traveling and when off-site. If you get a keyboard like the zaggmate, you can type real keys for notes and written work. This travels on planes better than a laptop, mine is often on my chest in the economy seats of most airlines, the ipad is much more travel friendly and the battery lasts much longer. Anyway, those are a few ways I have used mine so far. I have had it since August 2010, and I am sure there is much more I could be doing with it. Best regards, Keelan

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Keelan Kaiser AIA
Judson University
Elgin IL
Serena Sturm Architects
Chicago, IL
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As an architect, a tablet enables me to share drawings, review and mark them up; handle construction cost estimates; and draw both freehand and cad. Key to that is my capacitive stylus (rubber-tipped pen) that provides greater precision than an index finger. Consequently I moved many of my smartphone apps to the tablet. For me, it's clipboard rather than keyboard or tiny monitor (the smartphone) can't compare. So, I'll be spending more time with my head in the e-cloud.
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George Salinas AIA
Salinas Design and Consulting
Richmond VA
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Original Message:
Sent: 09-28-2011 09:38
From: Keelan Kaiser
Subject: Ipad

Just to add a little to the discussion...I've used my ipad for a variety of functions both in teaching and in my practice work. I use it to lecture and make presentations through keynote. The keynote app is pretty smooth. I use the goodreader app for pdf review and markup. I have been using cloud storage like dropbox as a means of having material available while traveling, or on the job site, using the wifi function in the ipad (I have a smart phone, so I didn't get the 3G version). I have had pdfs of CDs available for jobsite meetings, and when you open a single pdf page, say a plan detail sheet, you can view it real time with builders for discussion. I use the penultimate app for rough job site sketching, real time, then email the sketches to myself, or others, back at the office. That's better than a sketchbook, because the file is already digitized. That may be the best tool I've used on the job site to date.

I like to say the ipad is great for viewing and sharing, not great for actually making things, which is maybe what you are getting at Robert. So if you partition the things that you view and share, the ipad is much more nimble and flexible for those purposes, especially while traveling and when off-site. If you get a keyboard like the zaggmate, you can type real keys for notes and written work. This travels on planes better than a laptop, mine is often on my chest in the economy seats of most airlines, the ipad is much more travel friendly and the battery lasts much longer. Anyway, those are a few ways I have used mine so far. I have had it since August 2010, and I am sure there is much more I could be doing with it. Best regards, Keelan

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Keelan Kaiser AIA
Judson University
Elgin IL
Serena Sturm Architects
Chicago, IL
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Keelan's comments on the various ways to use an iPad are very helpful and make sense.

There are two younger professionals in our office who are in the process of preparing for the ARE exam and they have all of the reference materials on their iPads rather than in bulky documents, and can study whenever they get a break, or on the train, etc.

I have an android smartphone and have been testing android tablets (not yet committed) but there is a terrific sketch/drawing/illustration program for android from Autodesk for free (yes, free and from Autodesk) called SketchBook Mobile.  It is very good and works for simple sketches or highly detailed drawings with layers, color control, pencil, pen, ink, brush choices, etc.  You can draw over a photo (I have not tried drawing over a CAD file, it might have to be converted to JPG, not sure).  Also, you can export to Dropbox, or export using your email to any email address, and you can export in several formats, including PSD which maintains the layers.

More tools for more people for more of the time, or something like that.
Thanks


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Sherman Aronson AIA
BLT Architects
Philadelphia PA
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Original Message:
Sent: 09-28-2011 09:38
From: Keelan Kaiser
Subject: Ipad

Just to add a little to the discussion...I've used my ipad for a variety of functions both in teaching and in my practice work. I use it to lecture and make presentations through keynote. The keynote app is pretty smooth. I use the goodreader app for pdf review and markup. I have been using cloud storage like dropbox as a means of having material available while traveling, or on the job site, using the wifi function in the ipad (I have a smart phone, so I didn't get the 3G version). I have had pdfs of CDs available for jobsite meetings, and when you open a single pdf page, say a plan detail sheet, you can view it real time with builders for discussion. I use the penultimate app for rough job site sketching, real time, then email the sketches to myself, or others, back at the office. That's better than a sketchbook, because the file is already digitized. That may be the best tool I've used on the job site to date.

I like to say the ipad is great for viewing and sharing, not great for actually making things, which is maybe what you are getting at Robert. So if you partition the things that you view and share, the ipad is much more nimble and flexible for those purposes, especially while traveling and when off-site. If you get a keyboard like the zaggmate, you can type real keys for notes and written work. This travels on planes better than a laptop, mine is often on my chest in the economy seats of most airlines, the ipad is much more travel friendly and the battery lasts much longer. Anyway, those are a few ways I have used mine so far. I have had it since August 2010, and I am sure there is much more I could be doing with it. Best regards, Keelan

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Keelan Kaiser AIA
Judson University
Elgin IL
Serena Sturm Architects
Chicago, IL
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The iPad does not give the illusion of being a laptop.  I suspect the illusion is yours instead.  While it is useful for quick access to the internet, the real power of an iPad for architects is not the ability to change airline tickets.  It's well known that flash and IOS do not get along (for whatever reasons) and most animated elements on websites are flash driven.  The real power of an iPad lies in apps like:

Sketchbook by Autodesk for drawing and noting on photographs taken on site or imported from the Google Earth app
Bamboo Paper for quick sketching in the field or at meetings 
Auditorium for recording meetings and bookmarking important conversations while taking notes.
Team Viewer for accessing your actual computer at the office.
QuickOffice for viewing MS Office documents and PDFs
Integration with Basecamp or Procore project management sites through safari
Photos for carrying a mobile portfolio of work you do.

The iPad is not a laptop.  There are times when a laptop is completely impractical and the iPad shines.  I'm fortunate enough to use a variety of devices and I know exactly what each is good for.  I still drag a laptop to job meetings and client meetings but, it mostly sits in its bag unless I need to access Revit models or make major changes to a power point presentation or spread sheet.  You can work on an iPad but it serves best when it is used to access files/information created elsewhere and modify them or when it is used to collect information to be used later.  I'd rather make a quick note in Bamboo Paper than get out my laptop when walking a job site.  Try sitting across from a client at a table with a laptop and sketch an idea for a master plan without alienating them.  The same task on an iPad using a screen capture from Google Earth in Sketchbook invites others into the process rather putting a screen between you.

A majority of architects I've worked with seem to flounder in the digital age.  Finding the right tool for the right job is just as important when dealing with electronics as with drafting tools or in a wood shop.  Electronics dealers love to tell you that a device does everything.  However, it may not do everything well.  I have an iPhone in my pocket, an iPad in my hand, a laptop in my bag (or at home) and a serious custom made Revit machine on my desk in the office.  Each has their uses and limitations.  If the guy sitting next to me at an airport is interested in seeing what my firm does I can show him some tiny pictures on my phone, casually pull up a photo album on my iPad, or dig out my laptop and make a big fuss... heck, I can invite him back to the office to see the 3D models too.  But the most effective route would be decent sized images on an iPad he can hold and on which I can enter his contact info or schedule a meeting.

I don't mean to rant, but dismissing something because you are using it in a way that that ignores its strengths is shortsighted.  Especially since you've already shelled out the money for the device.  A laptop may make a poor hammer but, you shouldn't toss it because of that.

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Kell Pollard
Architectural Intern
Bender Associates Architects
Lexington KY
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Let's see here. Laptop computers are portable. iPads are smaller than laptops, but they are not portable. Am I missing something?

I would say there are over 12 million people who very obviously disagree with you.

Perhaps it's not the iPad that's not functional.
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Charles Graham AIA
Architect
O'Neal, Inc.
Greenville SC
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